Do You Have a Painful Job?

What professions bring about the most long-term pain symptoms? How can you prevent pain?

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome has a detrimental effect not just on personal lives but on the workplace as well. According to a report published by the American Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Association (ACPA) in 2011, pain is the top cause of disability in the United States. Its total cost each year is almost $300 billion. Decreases in productivity alone account for over 20% ($61 billion) of that figure. 13% of the working population experience pain on the job at any given time.

Top 5 jobs contributing to long-term pain

Here are five jobs that often give rise to pain or increase its severity, as curated by Health.com:

Landscaping – Yard work can be very difficult on the joints. Frequent bending of the back and sustained kneeling are often involved. Heavy lifting can contribute to back pain as well. Finally, the use of hand tools for trimming and other tasks can be difficult on the small joints.

Desk job or truck driver – An office worker encounters the same basic issue as a truck driver does: remaining seated for an extended period of time. Sitting increases the amount of pressure experienced by the back.

Manufacturing – One cause of pain in a manufacturing job is repetitive motion. Another problem is having to stand for a prolonged amount of time. Additionally, assembly lines often don’t allow breaks at sufficient intervals to allow the muscles to periodically relax.

Teacher – Teachers often experience back pain because of having to stand extensively. Those teaching in elementary schools are particularly prone to pain because of the need to pick items up from the floor, help kids tie their shoes, etc..

Healthcare – Jobs in the healthcare field can be difficult as well. They often involve long shifts that require significant amounts of standing. Jobs in nursing homes, or other environments that involve patient lifting, are difficult on both the back and the joints of the extremities.

Multidisciplinary treatment for chronic occupational pain

Pain management professionals have become convinced over the last two decades that multidisciplinary treatment is the most effective way to manage pain. This perspective is based on scientific evidence. For example, in a study published in the Journal of Craniovertebral Junction & Spine in 2012, equal numbers of computer users were treated with either conventional or multidisciplinary models for their lower back pain (LBP). 64% of the conventional group required sick days from work during treatment, while only 19% of the multidisciplinary group did.

For your recovery, take advantage of the strong multidisciplinary team at Pain Stop Clinics. With our responsible approach, root causes of long-term pain are treated so that your body can regain its natural balance and functionality.